Collector Sues Beach Boys

A collector filed a counter-lawsuit against The Beach Boys in a fight over who owns band memorabilia, including original music for hit tunes and contracts.

Roy Sciacca claims he purchased boxes of the band's memorabilia at liquidation sales in the 1980s in California. The band's tour manager was present during the sales and approved everything that was sold, Sciacca's lawsuit said.

Sciacca, of Tamarac, said the band wrongly stopped the sale of the memorabilia last year. He's seeking damages of $20 million or the right to sell it, according to the federal lawsuit against Brother Records Inc., the band's corporate entity.

In January, BRI sued Sciacca and the owner of a North Hollywood warehouse where the memorabilia was stored. That California lawsuit claims the photos, recordings and other band memorabilia were stolen from the warehouse for auction.

"I love The Beach Boys. It disgusts me how far this has gone and the lies and so forth," Sciacca said Thursday.

Ed McPherson, the band's attorney, said the band would continue to try to retrieve the items and called Sciacca's lawsuit a publicity stunt.

"It's unfortunate that there are people out there that take advantage of situations like this and people willing to buy this stuff," he said.

The Beach Boys became famous in the 1960s for their songs about the California lifestyle including "Surfin' USA," "California Girls" and "Help Me Rhonda."